I'd just like to thank tutorgirlx for nominating this fic for a Sexy Vixen award. Thank you so much!

Flashbacks are in italics.

Nathan Scott: Touch Your Defences

Nathan moved his arms from the stiff position across his chest. Although he didn't want to spend most of his Saturday morning in detention, it was inevitably better than the alternative.

His father, the notorious Dan Scott, was on the warpath thanks to both Nathan's fight with his half-brother, and his 'poor' performance on the court the night before.

Nathan had taken the title of being the second highest scorer in that particular game, and although Nathan and his mother were rather pleased; his father was less than impressed.

"Well done, honey," his mother, Deb Scott, said as Nathan met up with his parents minutes after the whistle had blown. "We're very proud."

"I'm glad one of us is," Dan grumbled, "Second place?" he asked his son, "Is that all you're worth?"

"Dan…" Deb began. She hated when her husband got too serious about the game, especially in front of the other players.

"Tim Smith was the highest scorer. Tim Smith!"

"What? I tried my best," Nathan retorted.

"It obviously wasn't good enough," Dan huffed, "Do you know what 'second place' means?"

Nathan sighed, he'd heard it countless times before, "Yes, Dad."

"What is it?" Dan asked his son. Nathan scuffed his shoe on the floor of the gym.

"Second place is just first loser."

"That's right and no son of mine is ever going to come second again, got it?"

Nathan glanced behind him, pretending to look around the room. Lucas was happily talking to Haley. It annoyed him slightly. Lucas Scott wasn't supposed to be happy.

He was supposed to be miserable. An outcast. He was a bastard, and it was Nathan's job to make sure he never forgot it.

And though Nathan mostly succeeded in bringing him down, being wealthier, popular and a good few inches taller than Lucas; he still couldn't help but feel the slightest bit envious.

Lucas Scott was not a name used often, or ever, in the Scott household. He wasn't sure what to think of having a brother, especially one his father didn't accept.

Nathan sometimes spent time at his father's dealership. His father's desk was lined with pictures of the family. Some of Nathan on his own – usually in his basketball gear – one or two of Dan as a teenager, one of Deb and Dan together, and a few family portraits.

When Dan found out that Nathan knew about Lucas, he gathered his son up in his arms and showed him a picture of Dan, Deb and Nathan.

"This is our family," he said, "You, me and your mom. That's it."

"But-"

"Lucas doesn't matter, Nathan. He's not in these pictures. He's not part of us, do you understand?" Nathan nodded and Dan ruffled his son's hair, "Good boy. Now go shoot some hoops or something."

Nathan had done what his father requested, but later found himself back in his dad's office while his father was with a client. A box of newspaper clippings and photos was left open on the desk and curiosity got the better of Nathan.

Nathan was stunned to find that they were filled with pictures of a boy his age with sandy blond hair and bright blue eyes. His eyes skipped through an article, and two words stuck out; 'Lucas Scott'.

From that day, everything for Nathan Scott changed. He no longer wondered what it would be like to have a brother. He didn't want one.

He even harbored resentment towards Dan for keeping those pictures. It meant that whatever Dan had said about only the three of them being a family was a lie.

As time went on, Nathan's anger increased with Dan's determination for Nathan to be a basketball star like he was; especially when Lucas was showing a big talent for the game.

It resulted in Dan pushing his youngest son to the brink at every possible opportunity. Dan rode the sidelines at school games and constantly reminded his son of his own achievements.

By the time he was a sophomore in High School, Nathan's efforts had put him on the team and at the top of the school ladder.

-----

"You're staring," Brooke's voice cut in.

"Huh?" Nathan said. Brooke cocked her head towards Lucas and Haley.

"Let me guess, either you've got a crush on Tutor Girl, or you're still emo-ing over your sibling situation. I'm going to take the latter."

"Shut up, Brooke," Nathan huffed at her. Brooke rolled her eyes and closed her magazine.

"You know, it's not a crime to like him or even talk to him without punching his lights out. It's not his fault who his father is," Brooke told him quietly. Nathan's brows knitted together in confusion.

"Why are you telling me this?" Nathan asked. Brooke Davis had never really shown this much compassion or consideration for others. Particularly towards him.

She shrugged, "I guess the whole Nathan/Lucas rivalry thing is getting pretty old. I'm bored of it."

"Because it all comes down to what you want, right?" Nathan asked.

"What I don't get is why you're so damned jealous of him."

"I am not jealous," he replied indignantly.

"Oh yeah, of course you're not," Brooke looked at Nathan and smiled, "You are jealous."

"Of what?" Nathan challenged, "Growing up with a father who doesn't want me?"

"Exactly," Brooke said, "You can't stand the fact that Lucas doesn't have to live up to Dan's name; but you do."

"You have no idea what you're taking about," Nathan mumbled.

"I think I do. It is a well-known fact that you're dad is an ass. And everyone knows the pressure he puts on you. Hell, I've even seen it myself… or do you like doing a two-mile jog every weekend morning at 5am?" she asked.

"What are you doing up at 5am?" Nathan asked.

"Don't try and change the subject, Nathan," she snapped, "Denial isn't a good color on you. You know what I'm talking about."

"Brooke, nobody knows what you're talking about."

Brooke sighed and opened her magazine again, "All I'm saying is that this rivalry between you is pretty pointless. Why don't you get back at your dad by teaming up with Lucas or something."

"Okay, seriously, what kind of drugs are you on?" Nathan asked.

"You hate your dad, it's obvious," Brooke told him.

"No, I don't!"

Brooke rolled her eyes, and shut the magazine once more, "Okay, denial-boy, here's the deal. You hate your dad because of mucho pressure and the fact that nothing you ever do seems to please him. Plus, you're still pissed that you come second best to Lucas, and that'll never change. Sure you're popular and rich and yada yada – but Lucas has what you want, which is some degree of happiness. So you can either sulk and pout, or you can get off your proud ass and show some kind of friendliness to Lucas. That's the only way you can hurt your dad and you may even get a brother out of it."

Nathan stared at Brooke. He had to admit that it made sense but wasn't sure what to make of her idea. Lucas probably hated his guts as much as he did, but he doubted Lucas hated Dan that much.

"That's a stupid idea," he said curtly.

"Suit yourself," she muttered, "But no-one's going to think less of you if you just acknowledge your brother once in a while. At least you have a family," she said the last part quietly, and even Nathan had to listen carefully to hear it.

He wondered what it meant, and was going to ask her, but she'd already turned her attentions on Peyton.

Nathan sighed and thought what his father would do if he ever saw his sons together.

Probably have a heart attack.

Nathan smiled in spite of himself.

-----

Nathan wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead as the sunlight poured into the small classroom. The other students shifted uncomfortably as the increase in temperature made them feel sticker and sweatier.

Looking at the big clock on top of the whiteboard, Nathan grumbled as he noted they still had an hour and a half left before noon.

He could still hear a quiet conversation between Lucas and Haley, and Peyton was still occupied with sketching.

His eyes wandered towards Brooke, who was still very much invested in her magazine. He wondered how many times she'd read that thing this morning.

Brooke swept her hair to the side, allowing her neck to cool down. The sweat that was forming was making her hair stick to the back of her neck. She leant down to grab her handbag and rifled through it. She groaned in frustration and leant in close to her blond friend.

"Do you have a hair tie?" she asked. Peyton shook her head.

"Tutor Girl!" Haley's head snapped up in attention, "Do you have a spare hair tie?" Brooke asked the girl. Haley shook her head.

"Sorry," she said. Brooke sighed and went back to her magazine, still uncomfortable.

After a little while, Nathan noted that there was a thin layer of sweat developing on her body. Since Brooke was sitting almost directly in the sun, the light reflected off her body and made it glisten.

Nathan subconsciously licked his lips as Brooke, oblivious to Nathan's stares, undid a couple of buttons at the top of her shirt and fanned herself with her free hand.

For some reason, it reminded Nathan of that Britney Spears video. The one where everyone's all sweaty and that guy licked her face.

Nathan cursed himself under his breath. Now he was thinking of Britney Spears.

He tried to concentrate on something else other than Brooke Davis or Britney Spears but it was to no avail. He let out a small groan as he felt the temperature in the room rise.

Almost jumping out of his seat, he went to open another window, much to the relief of the other four students.

"Finally!" Brooke said as a small gust of wind hit her face and filled the room, "I was dying."

"Why didn't you open the window yourself?" Nathan asked.

"I would have… but it was all the way over there," Brooke pointed towards the window Nathan had just opened. She was merely yards away from it.

Nathan rolled his eyes. Truth be told, he liked Brooke. A lot of people thought they despised each other, and Nathan was fine with that.

Their playful banter was usually harmless, except both had the tendency to get a little carried away, and then they'd give each other the silent treatment for a few hours, before going back to their regular ways.

He wasn't sure quite how they ended up in such a twisted and weird relationship, but he thought that it probably had to do with their fathers' relationship. The Davis' and the Scott's were both very competitive, and Brooke and Nathan seemed to inherit some of it.

Nathan even thought that the two of them would make pretty good friends – well, if they didn't enjoy teasing each other so much.

Next, Nathan's eyes moved towards the curly blond who was preoccupied with her sketch pad, just like she'd been during the duration of their three-month relationship.

Peyton Sawyer was definitely an enigma. She wasn't as flirty, sultry or party-loving as her best friend, but there was something in her that showed her to be more than just the moody artist that most people saw.

Most people were actually surprised that she and Nathan dated, and though by the end the two were completely bored and irritated with one another, the majority of it had been fun.

Of course, there were the usual arguments week after week. He wanted to go to a party; she wanted to stay home. He didn't have an opinion on one of her drawings; she took it personally and accused him of not caring.

They were polar opposites, but some how – for a little while – it worked.

She seemed to understand how he felt about his father, and his constant need to escape the pressure. Being with her seemed to solve most of his problems and it was nice.

He kind of wished they were still together, if only for the comfort.

Urgh, Nathan cursed himself again. He sounded like such a girl.

Comfort? Pah!

He was a man. Men didn't need comfort. Men were strong.

Although the man who told him all this, was the man Nathan wished he could stand up to.

-----

"So, let's say we really were 'The Breakfast Club' kids. Who would we all be?" Brooke asked, breaking the silence again.

"Brooke…"

"Nathan would be the jock…" Brooke began, "Tutor Girl would be the brain," she continued.

"You'd be the princess," Peyton butted in.

"Well, if you insist," Brooke said pretending to be surprised.

"Every time we watch the movie, you keep saying you'd be Molly Ringwald – without the red hair and bad 80s clothing," Peyton reminded her. Brooke just shrugged.

"We can see who the rebel would be, Miss I'm-Too-Moody-To-Be-A-Cheerleader," Brooke teased; "And of course, Lucas can be our recluse."

Nathan frowned, "So if we're in the movie, where's the pot?"

Brooke just gave him a look, "All I'm saying is that maybe this little detention of ours could lead to a bright and beautiful friendship."

"Like in the movie?" Haley asked. Brooke nodded, although she herself wasn't too convinced.

"I mean, some of us have shared our deepest and most inner most secrets…" Brooke said, earning her more strange looks, "Okay, maybe not, but you have to admit, spending this hour and a half together has taught us a few things."

"Like what?"

Brooke frowned, "Um… like…," she struggled to come up with something.

Nathan laughed out loud, "Oh my god, you really think that when we get out of here, we're all going to be friends, don't you?"

Brooke didn't say anything.

"This isn't some feel-good movie where everyone has a happy ending. This is real life. When we get out of here, none of us are going to be friends - well, with the exception of Brooke and Peyton over there," he pointed to the two who shrank in their seats.

"I'm still not going to accept Lucas as my 'brother', and I know for sure that Haley won't be exchanging beauty tips with Brooke anytime soon. So before you continue your little bonding session, remember that nothing in here matters," Nathan continued, "Because out there, no-one gives a shit about anyone but themselves."

He was irritated with being hot and sweaty; being stuck in the small classroom with his ex-girlfriend, her best friend, his half-brother and a tutor who couldn't stop staring at him. But most of all, he was fed up with his life.

After his outburst, everyone descended into silence and quickly returned to what they were doing without another glance at anybody else.

Although Nathan did regret saying it, he knew that every one else was thinking the same thing he was.

He was right.

To Be Continued…